OFMA plans to change name, expand membership, mission
Group will reach out to importers and distributors
Michael J. Knell -- Furniture Today, October 4, 2007
MISSISSAUGA, Ontario — The Ontario Furniture Manufacturers Assn. will change its name and broaden its mandate if members approve the moves at the factory group’s annual general meeting later this month.
A proposal calls for importers and distributors to be given full membership in the association, which would change its name to the Canadian Home Furnishings Alliance.
The meeting will be held Oct. 25 at the Hilton Garden Inn Toronto at 3201 Highway 7 West in Vaughan.
Laine Reynolds, OFMA’s chairman for the past two years, believes opening up membership will give new life to the association and better reflect industry reality.
“The line between manufacturers and importers has become blurred in recent years,” Reynolds said, adding the real industry challenge is getting consumers “to buy more furniture more often.”
OFMA membership has been sagging in recent years, mostly because of the shrinking number of domestic manufacturers in the province. Some of its most successful programs, including the health and safety group and the credit managers committee, are in danger of losing the critical mass they need to be effective.
“Manufacturers and importers have more common ground than not,” said Reynolds, who also is vice president of sales for Superstyle Furniture.
“We need to help the retailer sell more furniture to the consumer.”
At the upcoming meeting, the group will elect a new board of directors. In addition to Reynolds, those up for election are Dino Colallilo, Edgewood Furniture; Angelo Gallo, Statum Designs; Alan Kornblum, Distinctive Designs; Stan Mintz, Reflections Furniture; Hugh Owen, Owen & Co./Kingsdown Canada; John Power, Star Bedding Products/Serta Toronto; Joseph Roboz, Korson Furniture; Paul West, West Bros. Furniture; Bill Zimmerman, Durham Furniture; and Robert Infusino, Future Chair.
For more information, contact OFMA President Murray Vaughan at (905) 677-6561 or via e-mail at murray@ofma.ca.
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OFMA moves to include importers, change name
Oct 14, 2007
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